Techie Atul suicide case: Bengaluru police arrest estranged wife, her mother, brother

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police have arrested three people, including the estranged wife of senior tech executive Atul Subhash, who died by suicide recently.

Nikita Singhania was arrested in Gurugram, Haryana, while her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anuragh Singhania were picked up from Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, police said on Sunday.

They were arrested on Saturday morning, brought to Bengaluru and sent to 14-days judicial custody after being produced before a local court, they said.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said Subhash's wife, mother-in-law and brother-in-law have been apprehended and are in judicial custody. The investigation will follow. Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said, "He (Subhash) had left about a 40-page death note and he has raised several issues, most importantly about the misuse of provisions in the law that were meant for protection of women. He has said that he was pressured for Rs 3 crore and other things including cases booked against him"

Noting that Subhash has raised questions about the "rights of men", the minister said this has become a topic of discussion across the country, whether the law should be amended, citing womens' rights are being misused. "Questions are being raised, discussions are happening in the country. Probably discussions will have to happen in the days ahead about bringing changes in the laws at both state and the Centre," he added.

Earlier, Nikita Singhania, her mother, brother and uncle Sushil Singhania had filed anticipatory bail pleas in the Allahabad High Court. The pleas came after the Bengaluru Police on Friday issued a summons to Nikita Singhania and asked her to appear before it within three days.

On Sunday, the residences of Nikita Singhania and Sushil Singhania in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur appeared desolate with their main gates locked, balcony doors shut and the curtains on all windows drawn.

Several notices by the Bengaluru Police adorned the boundary walls of Nikita Singhania's house while a polythene bag with marigold flowers, commonly used in puja ceremonies, hung on a grab handle of the main gate. According to some local residents, the house has been empty ever since the trio went absconding.

Meanwhile, a handful of media personnel could be seen shooting videos and taking photos of Sushil Singhania's house 'Geeta Bhawan' on a narrow street that wore a deserted look.

Techie left behind a 24-page death note

Atul Subhash, who worked for a private firm in Bengaluru, left behind a 24-page death note, giving extensive details of what he alleged was years long of emotional distress of marital issues, multiple cases filed against him and harassment by his wife, her relatives, and a judge based in Uttar Pradesh.

Subhash's body was found hanging at his residence in the Manjunath Layout area, which falls under the Marathahalli police station limits, they added. A placard reading "Justice is due" was found in the room where he ended his life.

Before taking the drastic step, he recorded an over 80-minute video on Rumble, explaining the circumstances under which he had decided to die by suicide.

In the video, which has now gone viral on social media platforms, Subhash can be heard saying, "I feel that I should kill myself because the money I earn is making my enemies stronger. That same money will be used to destroy me, and this cycle will keep going.

"With the money from my taxes, this court and police system will harass me, my family, and other good people. So, the supply of value should be finished."

He demanded that, after his death, his wife and her family should not be allowed near his body. Until his alleged harassers were punished, he asked his family not to immerse his ashes.

Demanding justice, Subhash urged his family to throw the ashes outside the court's gutter if his alleged harassers were not found guilty.

"Based on a complaint from his family, we have registered a case of abetment of suicide against his wife and her family members. All the allegations are being looked into, and we are investigating the matter," a senior police officer said. No arrests have been made yet, he added.

According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that Subhash had been facing marital discord with his wife, who had also registered a case against him in Uttar Pradesh. He also sent his death note via email to several people and shared it with a WhatsApp group of an NGO he was associated with, the officer said.

Additionally, in his death note, Subhash requested that custody of his child be granted to his parents, stating that they could "provide better values".

In his death note, Subhash mentioned getting married in 2019. The couple had a son, the following year.

He alleged that his wife’s family repeatedly harassed him for money, demanding several lakh. When he refused, his wife reportedly left their Bengaluru home with their son in 2021, he alleged in this suicide note.

Subhash further alleged, "My wife will keep my child alienated and file more cases to harass me, my elderly parents, and my brother, using the money I pay her as maintenance. Instead of using it for our child's welfare, she is weaponising it against us."

Will not immerse ashes of my son till we get justice: Father of Atul

The father of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash called for strict punishment for those who “harassed” his son, asserting that his ashes will not be immersed till justice is served.

“I thank the Karnataka Police for arresting them (Subhash’s estranged wife and in-laws). All those who harassed my son should be punished so that he gets justice, and his soul rests in peace. I will not immerse the ashes of my son till we get justice,” Pawan Kumar told reporters here. “My son was being harassed and tortured for money, and humiliated by his wife... I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all concerned… please give us justice,” he said.

“My son was broken from inside... Even after torture by his wife and in-laws, he didn't tell anyone about it. His suicide note also mentioned that his parents be given custody of his child,” Kumar said. He said Subhash had also received a maintenance order for his son, amounting to Rs 40,000 per month.

"She (Subhash’s estranged wife) filed several false cases against us and my son. Strict action must be taken against all those who mentally tortured my son,” Kumar said.

Inputs from PTI.